Join Virginia’s Master Food Volunteer Program

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Like many Americans, you may be starting off 2018 with resolutions to improve your health and wellness, enhance your relationships, or maybe even advance your career. Regardless of your specific goals and resolutions, one way to kick off your own personal and professional growth this new year is to consider spending more time serving our community members and sharing your passion for healthy lifestyles.

The Master Food Volunteer Program is a nutrition-related Cooperative Extension group that provides Virginians across the state with up-to-date, evidenced-based knowledge on food preparation, nutrition, food safety, and physical activity. As Registered Dietitians (RDs), our technical skills and wealth of nutrition knowledge can be of great help to those who have never had formal nutrition education or specific cooking instruction. Continue reading below to find out how and why you should become a Master Food Volunteer (MFV) this year!

WHAT IS IT?

The MFV program is a state-wide program that organizes nutrition-related community service opportunities for volunteers through educational and outreach efforts in the community. By engaging volunteers throughout various geographical areas of Virginia, this program helps the state’s Extension program to reach more Virginians. Examples of event opportunities include health fairs, food demonstrations, grocery store displays, in-school and after-school programs, cooking classes, and more can be found on the MFV webpage.

Prior to volunteering, all participants must complete a 30-hour training course. After the training, volunteers are able to identify opportunities that suit their skills and interests. Each volunteer is asked to reciprocate with 30-hours of service within one year of their training.

WHERE IS IT?

The MFV program continues to expand across the many cities and counties of the state of Virginia. Once participants complete the training program, they work directly with their supervising Cooperative Extension agent to identify volunteer opportunities within their communities.

WHY JOIN?

There are many current and retired RDs that are involved in the MFV program. While anyone that has a love for cooking, nutrition, physical activity, or helping others is encouraged to join, RDs come to the program with expert knowledge on nutrition issues and valuable experience working in a variety of settings.

In addition to performing community service, involvement in MFV can provide opportunities for professional growth. Many MFV volunteers become active in other leadership positions within their communities, such as the local Extension Leadership Councils or other local organizations. Volunteers also have a chance to improve their public speaking, teaching, and networking skills as they become more active in the program. In the past, volunteers have even acquired new skills and knowledge to help start their own business or gain new employment. For example, a recent program volunteer just moved to another state and became a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent.

Whether you are looking to help your community, grow professionally, or both, MFV is a great place to start!

HOW TO JOIN:

For anyone interested in learning more about the availability of the MFV in your area of Virginia, visit the MFV website and fill out the section titled, “please visit our survey”. Within the survey, describe your specific interest, skills, and talents that you think you think would be helpful for the program. The program’s state coordinator, Dr. Melissa Chase, will contact you and refer you to the Cooperative Extension agent in your area of residence so that you can learn more about the training sessions and volunteer opportunities available to you.

For RDs that are interested in volunteering but may not have availability to complete the MFV training, you are still encouraged to contact Dr. Melissa Chase at mechase@vt.edu to inquire about nutrition-related volunteer events or specific training/educational opportunities that my not necessarily require training as a MFV. The program highly welcomes opportunities to collaborate with RDs.

Ali Webster is a current dietetic intern in the Virginia Tech Internship in Nutrition and Dietetics. She previously completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Master’s degree in Human Nutrition at The Ohio State University. In her free time, she loves exploring parks and neighborhoods around the DC Metro Area and trying to master new food recipes!

With fall right around the corner, that means it’s just about time to welcome back fall favorites like fresh apples, pears, and pumpkins to the dinner menu. It’s likely that you will probably come across an apple or two that may look a little less perfectly shaped or ‘uglier’ than the rest. Consider for a moment if you would skip over the ugly fruit, or, if you would place the ugly fruit into your shopping basket.

It is commonplace for today’s shoppers to pass over misshapen or oddly sized produce selections in search of more cosmetically appealing choices. In fact, many grocers even pre-screen the produce bins in an effort to remove cosmetically imperfect pieces before shoppers have a chance to see them.

The process of removing unattractive or unsafe produce from the market is called culling.

Culling is performed by produce distributors to remove produce that may be unsafe to consume due to mold or rotting. However, the process has evolved to also include removing produce that is completely food safe but looks somewhat unattractive. Produce with minor bruises, shrivels, off-color, or distorted size and shape are still safe to consume.

With today’s culling practices and consumer food waste habits, it is no surprise that produce is among the top wasted food group. Almost half of all fruits and vegetables produced are wasted, with nearly 20-30% of the losses attributed to retailer and consumer practices such as culling.

While wasted produce continues to serve as a major environmental issue, the good news is that progress has been made to combat the wasteful process of tossing ugly produce! In 2014, the Ugly Fruit and Veg Campaign embarked on a journey to bring awareness to the billions of pounds of produce wasted annually due to strict cosmetic standards.

The Ugly Fruit and Veg Campaign highlights the ‘uglies’ and ‘misfits’ of the produce world through their campaign on Twitter, Instagram, We Heart It, and Facebook. The organization partners with grocers and retailers across the globe to provide shoppers with access to discount selections of cosmetically imperfect produce. The overarching mission is to reduce annual food waste by selling ugly fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be discarded into land fills.

There is no better time than the present to get started on reducing how much food you waste each week. Join the Ugly Fruit and Veg Campaign this fall and play your part in reducing annual produce waste!

Ugly Fruit and Veg Campaign Partners Near You:

Check out the partnership directory to find an Ugly Fruit and Veg Campaign store partner near you. A number of retailers currently making the list include Giant, Safeway, and Walmart.

Have fresh, discounted produce (including the ‘uglies’) delivered right to your door by Hungry Harvest. The company rescues produce that would otherwise be thrown away for cosmetic and surplus reasons and allows you to mix and match a personal batch of fruits and veggies at a low price. Check out the delivery schedule to find out when produce is delivered in various neighborhoods of Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland!

Ali Webster is a current dietetic intern in the Virginia Tech Internship in Nutrition and Dietetics. She previously completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Master’s degree in Human Nutrition at The Ohio State University. In her free time, she loves exploring parks and neighborhoods around the DC Metro Area and trying to master new food recipes!

The United States is fortunate to enjoy one of the richest and most plentiful food supplies across the globe. Each year, however, our abundant food supply contributes to an ever-growing pile of wasted food.

Food waste can be defined as the loss of an edible amount of post-harvested food that is safe and available for human consumption but is not consumed for any particular reason. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that Americans dispose of nearly 35 million tons of food waste each year- that is the equal to about 5 pounds of food waste, per person, each and every week!

Pressing issues regarding food waste:

Food dumped into landfills eventually decomposes and produces large quantities of methane gas. These methane gas emissions are a major and devastating contributor to global climate change.

Wasting part of the food supply also means wasting a portion of our natural resources. Food waste creates a serious deficit in resources such as water and land.

Nearly 13% of households in the U.S. have trouble providing enough food for their families. The millions of tons of annually wasted food could be going to families in need of food assistance.

Many people wonder where exactly along the supply chain food waste occurs. In developed countries like the U.S., nearly one third of food is wasted in the hands of retailers and consumers. That means that as consumers, we can play a leading part in reducing annual food waste!

There are lots of ways that you can educate yourself and your clients to decrease personal food waste through planning, storage, and preparation. Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s tips for reducing wasted food at home!

Ali Webster is a current dietetic intern in the Virginia Tech Internship in Nutrition and Dietetics. She previously completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Master’s degree in Human Nutrition at The Ohio State University. In her free time, she loves exploring parks and neighborhoods around the DC Metro Area and trying to master new food recipes!

Q. There’s a lot of talk about obesity and Type 2 diabetes and it seems a lot of the program is about managing weight. What does the program have available (lifestyle-wise) for those T2D patients who have lost weight since diagnosis and/or who are not overweight?

A. The National DPP and the MDPP benefit are for individuals with prediabetes/high risk for type 2 diabetes and are overweight. It is not for people who already have diabetes. Medicare Part B beneficiaries with diabetes have access to the following nutrition benefits:

Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT): DSMT includes education for eating healthy, being active, monitoring blood sugar, taking drugs, and reducing risks. Medicare may cover up to 10 hours of initial DSMT. This training may include 1 hour of individual training and 9 hours of group training in the first year, and 2 hours of follow-up training in subsequent years.

Q. This program – short of the curriculum – seems similar to an IBT for Obesity program. Any idea whether there might be an overlap in terms of payers and which program might be more profitable for the health care provider or RDN?

A. Medicare’s Intensive Behavioral Therapy (IBT) for Obesity benefit and the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program benefit are considered distinct benefits. They each have different eligibility criteria and coverage parameters, and requirements for CMS payment. IBT for Obesity refers to a specific Medicare Part B benefit for beneficiaries with a BMI ≥ 30 that can be delivered in primary care settings. Other payers (non-Medicare) may cover diabetes prevention programs as well as also offer benefits related to obesity treatment (e.g., MNT or programs). Each payer sets its own eligibility requirements and payment policies. RDNs and other health care providers need to evaluate the costs and benefits of providing services based on their organization/practice’s mission, business model, costs, amount of reimbursement, other sources of revenue, and target market, etc.

Q. In order to be a Medicare recognized program would the initial 16 sessions in the first 6 months need to be carried out consecutively? I currently run our DPP in my workplace. However, participants have slowly trickled in and are not all attending the same sessions, and we have conducted 16 individual sessions; would thiscount?

A. In order to become a Medicare recognized program, the program must achieve full CDC recognition and enroll as a Medicare Supplier. The core MDPP benefit is for 12 consecutive months and must consist of at least 16 weekly core sessions over months 1-6, and at least 6 monthly core maintenance sessions over months 6-12. CMS will address payment for MDPP services in future rule-making.

Q. Can the program be reimbursed at a hospital outpatient office or does it require reimbursement at a doctor’s office outpatient?

A. Yes. The hospital based program would need to enroll as a Medicare Supplier of the NDPP.

Q. I was trained as a life coach for the original CDC DPP in 2013. I have since left the job. Do I need to get new certification for the program or will the original 2 day training be transferable?

A. Certification as a lifestyle coach does not expire, however, organizations that are providers of NDPPs may set policies and/or requirements regarding current training.

Q. Is the EPIC EHR flow sheet shown in the presentation available to all EPIC users or does the flow sheet need to be purchased separately?

A. The flowsheets are a custom build and are not an EPIC product.

Q. To run an effective NDPP, can you elaborate more clearly on the mandatory resources to run a CDC-recognized program?

A. The mandatory resources needed to run an NDPP CDC recognized program are an approved CDC curriculum, trained lifestyle coaches, and eligible participants to form a group-based program.

About the Author: Joyce Green Pastors, MS, RD, CDE, VAND Member and one of the Virginia Diabetes Council Board Members, participated in a webinar on May 24th, 2017 for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics about diabetes prevention. We thank them for sharing information from this webinar with us.

Q. Will Medicare pay for the program participants that are in the pending recognition status?

A. Pending recognition status is the initial application process for CDC diabetes prevention program recognition (DPRP) for the NDPP. A program with pending recognition is not eligible for Medicare payments. Medicare will be requiring organizations to have Full CDC Diabetes Prevention Program Recognition to enroll as Medicare Suppliers. CMS is considering another category of recognition which would be addressed in future rule-making.

Q. It was mentioned that NDPP will only be reimbursed from Medicare for face-to-face groups initially. Would a live, telephone group be considered face-to-face?

A. No, telephonic delivery is not considered face-to-face. CMS will not pay for non-face-to-face delivery of the program in 2018. Future rule-making will address virtual delivery and payment.

Q. How different is the CDC approved DPP from the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Self-Management and Education Program?

A. The National DPP and Diabetes Self-Management and Education (DSME) program are different programs altogether. The National DPP is intended to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in populations with prediabetes. DSME programs provide standardized education and training for populations already living with
diabetes. DSME programs are recognized by the American Diabetes Association or accredited by the American Association of Diabetes Educators. Programs that deliver the National DPP are recognized/accredited by the CDC. DSME programs that also wish to deliver the National DPP must go through the process to become CDC-Recognized (full) and enroll as a Medicare Supplier to deliver the National DPP to Medicare beneficiaries with prediabetes.

Q. Does one need to be a certified diabetes educator (CDE) to be a DPP Lifestyle Coach?

A. One does not have to be a CDE, health care provider, or have certain credentials to become a DPP Lifestyle Coach. Please see slide 26 for eligibility and skills.

Q. Is the NDPP/MDPP a voluntary program that RDNs engage in? Is there a financial incentive, billing etc.?

A. The National DPP is the overarching program/framework for implementation of the lifestyle change intervention for those with prediabetes/high risk for type 2 diabetes. The MDPP refers to the new Part B benefit for the National DPP lifestyle change intervention for Medicare beneficiaries. The National DPP and MDPP are linked and are not really two separate programs. Organizations must become part of the National DPP since they must attain full recognition by the CDC to deliver the MDPP benefit to enroll as a Medicare Supplier and be paid by Medicare. CDC Recognition for DPP programs is voluntary, but is increasingly being used by payers as a requirement for
reimbursement/payment as it is with the MDPP benefit.

Programs with CDC recognition have the ability to offer the National DPP to consumers with private insurance who have benefits and coverage for diabetes prevention programs, and/or to provide the program for a fee in instances where consumers do not have an insurance benefit for diabetes prevention programs. Not all payers require full recognition to begin offering the program. Some payers may provide consumer coverage and pay for programs with pending status, but are likely to expect the program to achieve and maintain full recognition. Depending on the setting, there can be numerous benefits from offering the National DPP, not to mention the benefits of providing a program demonstrated to prevent the onset of disease. Benefits of offering the National DPP and of becoming a Medicare Supplier of the MDPP were highlighted in Marcy Kyle’s presentation of the webinar. We recommend that you listen to the recorded webinar provided.

About the Author: Joyce Green Pastors, MS, RD, CDE, VAND Member and one of the Virginia Diabetes Council Board Members, participated in a webinar on May 24th, 2017 for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics about diabetes prevention. We thank them for sharing information from this webinar with us.